Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for July 19, 2021

Uh oh!

Sigh.

Ok I know what the rest of the week is going to be, so let me just say it now.

Bernice is absolutely, 100% NOT obligated to tell Luann that she and Nil are “exploring” each other. Her reasoning could be anything from insecurity and unwillingness to be embarrassed if things don’t work, to simply wanting to avoid awkward/invasive questions. She is NOT a bad friend for wanting to keep it to herself especially this early in the game.

Now, is she being something of a hypocrite, demanding to know if Luann was sleeping with Jack and then hiding her own relationship? Absolutely. If you’re going to set certain boundaries, you must be able to respect similar boundaries for other people. But she is not wrong for wanting to keep things on the down low, especially at the very beginning.

Poor Nils. He’s moved from a knee to an elbow, narrowing in on “first base” only to ruin everything by mentioning Luann. Not that she is spying on them, only that she knows. And Bernice blows a gasket. Man has the girl have issues.

So are we saying Bernice is selfish that Luann doesn’t have a love life while Bernice herself does?

For a quiet guy, it appears Nil will stand up to Bernice.

Nil treading in risky territory. Maybe he should bit his tongue instead of….

Looks like more Nil-ism talk is looming. Psycho-gargle?

Don’t stop! Bernice is looking hot!

And just like that, Nil asks the musical question:

”WHY does Bernice care if Luann sees her kissing Nil?”

One could almost conclude that Bernice was ashamed of being seen swapping spit with him or something.

And before anyone starts and for the record, Bernice was NEVER “ashamed” of her relationship with Zane, or her affection toward Piro.

But with Nil? Hmm.

I thought there’d be a “catch” with this “relationship.”

There’s ALWAYS a “catch” when it comes to the Strip’s guys and what passes for romance, in the VAST Luanniverse. Just ask Brad and Gunther.

Anyway, so help Me, I think I’m starting to like this Nil fellow.

But God help him. ;)

Don’t look now, but I think I see Zane coming by in his wheelchair with his dog…. lol

I think the strip should be re-named “Ink Blots.” Every time a new strip goes up, we all login to say what we see in it.

You know, now that I think about it, we have yet to figure out who Luann was sleeping with a couple of months ago. Maybe it was Neil?

Good Question Gentleman!

Nil, it is not good practice to mention another gal’s name when you are kissing one. That would have frozen action for me.

¿Bernice asume que Luann la estaba espiando cuando en realidad fué Puddles quien la encontró? ¿La misma que la siguió cuando estaba escondiendo a Tara? ¿La misma que la incitó a investigar sobre la intimidad de Gunther y Bets?

Nil is sounding more and more like some kind of Zen Master. But I don’t know if Zen Masters are all into snogging. I see saffron robes in Bernice’s future! 8^ )

’ernice? Kissus interruptus. Maybe not a good sign.

Of course Luann would be interested that Bern’s in some kind of relationship with a guy! Why wouldn’t she? Jaysus, Bern! Get help!

Bernice the problem is you for caring what Luann thinks about your and Nil relationship you are making her the third wheel in this relationship.

Hey Nil, if you don’t understand why Bernice cares if luann care enough to spy on them, why did mention Luann? why not just slip your tongue back in bernice’s mouth and continue rounding 2nd base? Bernice is hot for you, you silly boy. Strike while the iron is hot or it’ll cool and you’ll miss your chance --you might not get another.

“I just like my privacy. Strangers don’t count. Close friends do.”

Well firsr I have to totally admit I fell for a patented GnK misdirection play. The seeming Sunday clue about Lu’s lovelife was just a one-off, not the introduction to an arc about her, heaven forbid! Ah some fire between these two nerds? Can the creative get the psychotherapist knows everything while having no clue type to be less worried or concerned about what Luann thinks?

To address Bernice’s question rather than Nil’s, Luann cares because Bernice is supposed to be the sexless best friend, and suddenly she’s getting more action than the central character. She’s worried about what this does to their respective roles.

Luann should leave them alone. At this point they are not causing anyone but Luann a problem.

SEE??!! I called it. She thought she was being spied on. She thought Luann followed her. Of course, Luann was NOT following her – as some thought I was saying. Luann believed she went to the library and took Puddles out for a walk to the dog park and probably hoping to see Jack there for some training tips, perhaps. She happened to see Bernice with Nil there on this bench. But from Bernice’s standpoint, she told Luann she was going to the library and now she was sitting on this bench and not at the library…and along comes who? Luann. Why is she here? Did she doubt about going to the library? Did she decide to find out where I was really going? Huh? Hence the rude send-off. So when Nil asked about Luann, she looked around thinking Luann was still close by spying on them. Ok, Bernice, what is going on? Why do you not want Luann to know about you and Nil? Are you embarrassed about Nil? Or are you embarrassed at your newly found sexuality – insatiable, it seems? You don’t want Luann to know about your sexuality? Because you are supposed to be old maid bookworm? Well, Bernice, I think Luann would be happy for you. I think you are overreacting over nothing.

Today’s episode is similar to a fable about two Buddhist monks. They sect forbids them have any contact with women. During their travels they come to a river ford. A woman is there who asked for their help crossing. The old monk picks her up carries her across the river, sets her down, then continues on his journey. After a time the novice monk asks, “Master why did you carry that woman across the river when our sect forbids us to touch a woman?” The older monk replies, “why are you still carrying her” Nils is playing the older monk here.

Well that killed the mood.

Bernice, Luann does not spy on you, you spy on Luann. Get it straight!

I love Luann – major disappointment for me if Luann is still watching – even from a distance. Lu is like 20 now – the occasion calls for Luann to beeline somewhere – anywhere.

Nil is good for her.

Nil’s behavior baffles me. He had no problem telling Luann “bye” in Friday’s strip. Now he wants to talk about Luann for no apparent reason.

“No, much enough” is bad grammar. Should be “it’s enough”

Luann is an busybody.

This was totally unexpected, at least for me. Nil wants to talk to ‘ernice about her behavior towards Luann and he looks really serious. Bernice looks really mad at her. Maybe after she moved into her house, Luann became way too close and she can’t stand her anymore? How can this be interpreted by someone outside, like Nil? It seems he gives great importance to friendship. His long life friendship with Jack is obviously important to him, they seem to talk about everything. Luann is also one of his friends and he has a hig opinion of her, as a person and as an artist. Also, not wanting to talk about them could indicate that Bernice is ashamed of their relationship. Nil has all right to ask for an explanation.

If Bernice wanted to keep things on the DL, she should be smart enough not to make out with her secret lover on a park bench, in the middle of the day. The dog park is literally the only place Luann ever goes. Luann was obviouly surprised to see Bernice. Probably because Bernice told her she was going to the library.

I mean, it’s not like Luann held a glass up to a wall to hear her conversation or got in her car and followed Bernice to the Fuse in the middle of the night…. that would be a breach of privacy. Oh, wait a second….

I am confused about why Nil asked what about Luann. I think Luann has gone about her business with Puddles until she sees Bernice at home, but I can’t blame Bernice for thinking Luann is watching from afar. Yet, I agree with Nil. Why does Bernice care? He is unaware of the third degree questioning that will come later, but Bernice will take care of that herself when the time comes.

Nil doesn’t like that they had to interrupt their make-out session to make it look like they weren’t making out.

And Nil, you should know right now that Bernice is severely repressed and can’t cope with the idea of allowing others to see her being emotionally demonstrative.

…because Luann is a snoop and a liar? She clearly said she was leaving

This seems backwards (who’s worried about LuAnn). Bernice was happily snogging along when Nil broke it off to bring up LuAnn; he gets her stirred up about it, then turns around and calls her out on it. Was Nil hoping for a “LuAnn who?” and a return to snogging?

Nil has it correct.

Why does Bernice care about Luann? Nil is the one who brought her up.

I asked last week how long would it take Nil to realize she is embarrassed to be seen with him. The answer is not long. He has finally seen the real Bernice. Hopefully he says call me when we don’t have to hide and walks away.

I won’t complain about Bernice’s behaviour or whatever. I just hope this whole thing ends with Luann deciding to end their “friendship” after Bernice is able to move back to her place or the dorms or whatever (it wouldn’t be cool to break off the relationship when she’s still in a vulnerable position).

I want this to become an opportunity for the main character to grow. Part of growing is knowing when certain relationships run their course. This doesn’t mean that Bernice would never appear again; she’d still be friends with Gunther, Tiff, or Bets, and she could just be associates with Luann. I think there would be quite a bit of story potential with that development.

And I’d love it if Luann brought this up and discussed it calmly while Bernice rages and accuses her of being completely immature. But hey, that’s just me.

Maybe she cares because she loves you and just wants to look out for you. You don’t have to lie to her, just tell her that she’s bothering you and she’ll understand.

If Bernice was my friend, I’d put her in the rear-view mirror.

Is there one “friendly” thing Bernice has done, since moving in with Luann?

Uhh, Nil — and I’m assuming you were named for the amount of charisma you have — Bernice is just (probably correctly) assuming that Luann is spying on them, because YOU mentioned her. The question is why do YOU care?

Wait just a minute, Nil is the one who started this by asking, “what about Luann?”.Why does he care? No guy I have ever known will intentionally blow a make out session.And then he asks, “why do you care?” Huh? Pretzel Logic. Get a grip Evans!

Is the crossed knees while sitting and kissing the same as lifting the one leg up at the knee while standing and kissing?

Bernice’s need to keep their romance secret is in big trouble because Nil is an EXHIBITIONIST…an art exhibitionist, that is!

Nil asks the right questions

if you canoodle in a public park, guess what? everybody is watching!!

I would be embarrassed to be seen too. Nil has one big bulgy eye, a squashed nose and a teeny tiny little mouth (how does he even manage a kiss is beyond me). He has a stuck up attitude, he paints stupid pictures, never combs his hair and wears a coat and beanie in the summer. I don’t find his character attractive at all. Bernice is obviously just looking for a willing sex partner. Just get it done so we can all move on. This is boring.

Its time for Bernice to move back to the dorms. The girls have grown apart, time to put some space between them.

Don’t you know anything, Nil? Bernice cares because she’s worried about being perceived by others as an inveigling sybarite. I mean, that’s what EVERYBODY would be thinking, right?

Bernice is a “sapiosexual” obviously turned on by Nil’s “deep intelligence”!

It’s not a leap to figure that Nil spotted Luann watching. You could say these two bffs spy on and follow each other because they feel (as bffs) entitled to know everything about the other; and because now that they are under the same roof they see more, hear more and get a little too curious. Bern listened when Tara slept over in Luann’s room and then followed Luann to the Fuse; Luann somehow knew Bern was going on a pre-planned “date” with Nil before even Bern knew about it. Luann burst in on a private conversation between Nancy and Bern (about Nil) and is now ultra curious as to what Bern is doing when she says she’s going to the library but w/o a big knapsack of books.

But Nil is right on his effort to get Bern to lighten up. Probably they’ve been meeting this way a few times and he knows she’s been giving Luann some other explanation and he doesn’t really go for that.

Yes, forget about Luann…get back to his lips!

Why does HE care? He asked about Luann first. Bernice does seem a bit paranoid, but wonder why he asked. This one doesn’t make too much sense. (?)

Yeah, why does she? Why the big secret?

Bernice is such a wacko. Luann was never spying on her.

Is that the longest sentence Nil has ever uttered?

Luann stopped Spying when Puddles peed on her leg.

Why is Bernice so Paranoid?

When will Bern’s brother and his kids be able to move out of Bern’s parents’ house? Seems like his wife has been gone taking care of her parent for a long time. It would help L and B’s friendship immensely if B could move out. The brother leaving could come totally out of the blue, too, and B could do the vanishing act in one strip.

Throw the voyeur a crumb.

I think part of the reason Bernice doesn’t want Luann to know about Bern’s relationship with Nil, is because she doesn’t want to admit that Luann was right. Go back to the strip from 5/13/21. Luann is encouraging Bernice to go with Nil, saying the two are a good match, and Bernice should take a chance to have some romance in her life. Of course Bernice sneers at Luann (the way she sneers at everything Luann says) but she does keep the date with Nil, and HEY!! Guess what??? Luann was right!

Bernice is constitutionally unable to admit she was wrong about anything, and someone else might be right. Especially when that someone else is Luann. Because all Luann is to Bernice is someone to criticize, insult, sneer at and generally look down on. Bernice never says it outright, but one gets the feeling she considers Luann to be, as the saying goes, too stupid for words.

Despite G&K’s best efforts, I don’t consider the Luann character to be stupid, although I do question her taste in “BFF’s.” Supposedly Luann got good grades in high school, and has since shown episodes of maturity. I just wish G&K would let her keep that maturity and stop regressing her.

Nil should be the one to major in psychology.

There’s a really good reason PDA is called “Public” Displays Of Affection. It’s not called “Private” Displays Of Affection….Ya don’t own the park…

I think Bernice is doing Luann a disservice by keeping Luann in the dark on her relationship with Nil.But again, while Bernice was valedictorian and takes honors level courses, she is definitely immature in relationships (more than the norm for the Luannverse)Her one relationship with Zane had her considering marriage at 16.Her relationship with Piro was mostly imaginary (and a bit neurotic as she engaged in stalker behavior.Considering Gunther, Bernice was oblivious approaching callousness, ignoring his feelings and trying to manipulate him towards Tiffany.When her and Luann found Gunther after his breakup with Bets they were the opposite of caring.If Bernice wants to be a counselor, she has a LOT of issues to work through and some serious growing up to do

There’s more drama here in the comments than in the strip!

It wasn’t so long ago that you were eavesdropping at Luann’s door and following her around town, Bernice.

Will we ever see his left eye?

Practice makes perfect, so keep practicing, and give Luann an eye full!

There are aspects of Luann that Bernice does not like. This is about establishing boundaries, which is occupying far too much of her brain at the moment. Nil will help her.

Interesting that Bern is attracted to the quiet mysterious types like Piro and Nil.

Wow, the people who say that Bernice isn’t really Luann’s friend are right. Does Bernice even like Luann at all?

Yes Bernice, why do you care? The damage is done so enjoy yourself

RIP Robby Steinhardt. Original violinist for the rock band KANSAS. died at 71 on the 18th.

Number 2: Why do you care? Number 6: I know your voice. Number 2: I have been here before. Why-do-you-care? Number 6: You’ll never know. (hangs up) Number 2: Wait – and see. “Once Upon A Time,” The Prisoner

this is cool matchup

No Luann around = no lovin’, with anyone. Get thee to a therapist, Bernice. Luann can’t be there to watch all your make-out sessions.

Nil has a valid point even though I don’t understand the first two frames!

Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t Luann chasing after her “poorly” trained dog?

Ah, good question. Why does Bernice care what Luann thinks? I’m happy to see Nil stand up to Bern. She needs that.

I don’t know that Luann is “still spying” (paranoid much?), but I do hope she’s gone away. Nil is a little too fatalistic and unconcerned for my taste….

I think I’m reading a different strip: Luann DID NOT purposely intrude on them. Puddles must have smelled Bern nearby and ran off. Luann was merely retrieving him. What, was she NOT going to say hi once she saw who it was? Ridiculous. Luann was not spying. Bern has way too many issues. I like Nil. Especially because he stands his ground.

I think this would have been immensely more interesting had Luann been with Jack, and they stumbled upon Bern and Nil.

And we’re setting up a couple of days of Nil making solid points and a couple of weeks of Bern overreacting to same.

@mordock999 Mordock I’ve always wondered where your profile picture comes from? What cartoon is that?

Why is Nil interrupting his exploration session with Bernice to ask this question?

Well, she has nerve!

Did he say she was spying? I thought he was just asking if Bernice was OK now that Luann knew.